Occupant-propelled roundabout swing set

ABSTRACT

A swing rotatably supported by a vertical post. A clutch rotatable about the post with the swing and stopped against rotation when a cord connected to the clutch is pulled to rotate the swing relative to the clutch A spring returns the clutch to its original relative position with respect to the swing when the clutch is released.

I United States Patent in! 3,595,570

[72] Inventors Emmett M. Huff [56] References Cited 2834 North Hanley Rfllld, St. Louis, MO. UNITED STATES PATENTS 63114; Bernard McNames 75 \(erlene 1,020,084 3/l9l2 Dunning 272/33 Florissant, Mo. 63031; Albert Ellegood, FOREIGN PATENTS 5793 Hawkins Fuchs Road, St. Louis, Mo. 23. l 20 I899 Great Britain .l 272/33 23129 OTHER REFERENCES [2.] P 92982 German Printed Application 1,053,364 Stahlecker, March 7,1969 I9 1959 Class 188/74 [45] Patented July 27, 1971 Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant ExaminerAmold W. Kramer Attorneyl(ingsland, Rogers, Eilers & Robbins SET 3 clmmsg Drawing Figs ABSTRACT: A swing rotatably supported by a vertical post. (52] US. Cl 272/33, A clutch rotatable about the post with the swing and stopped I I 272/90 against rotation when a cord connected to the clutch is pulled [51] Int. Cl A63g 1/12 to rotate the swing relative to the clutch A spring returns the [50] Field of Search 272/33, 41, clutch to its original relative position with respect to the swing when the clutch is released.

OCCUPANT-PROPELLED ROUNDABOUT SWING SET BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The swing set includes a pair of swing seats hung from horizontal bars. The horizontal bars are connected to a cylinder that is rotatably mounted on a vertical post. A clutch mechanism comprises a stationary drum mounted on the post and a housing mounted for rotation about the drum. A brakeshoe is carried by the rotatable housing and normally permits rotation of the housing but an eccentric actuated upon application of an external force presses the brakeshoe against the drum to block rotation of the rotatable housing. A lever is connected to the eccentric, and a cord s connected to the outer end of the lever arm and passes through a post that rotates with the swing seats. The cord is accessible to a rider on one of the swing seats so that when the rider pulls the cord, he applies the required external force to actuate the clutch and lock the rotatable housing against rotation. At the same time pulling of the cord applies a force to rotate the swing seats.

A tension spring is connected between the rotatable housing and the post that rotates with the swing seat. The latter post elongates the tension spring when it revolves and also releases the clutch when it revolves to a certain predetermined position. The elongated tension spring then causes the clutch to rotate to its original position relative to the swing seats, repositioning the clutch for the application of another rotating force.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the swing set.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary view in section taken along the line 3 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary view in section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2, with the tension spring and pull cord omitted.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view in section taken along the line 6-6 of F IG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a view in section similar to that of FIG. 4 but showing the clutch in released condition.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view in section taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view similar to the view of FIG. 2 but showing the swing-supporting horizontal bars rotated from the position shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This swing set is mounted on a vertical post 21 that may be secured in a suitable stand 22 fastened to a solid base 23 by bolts ;24 or may be driven into the ground of a yard or vertically supported in any suitable manner. As shown in FIG. 3, a cylinder 25 is mounted between upper and lower annular blocks 26 and 27 against appropriate annular stops 28 and 29 respectively. The block 26 has a radially inwardly extending upper rib 30 that cooperates with a plate 31 fastened by bolts 32 to'its lower side to clamp against a rotating bearing 33. The rotating bearing 33 has a bearing surface 34 that bears against a complementary bearing surface 35 of a stationary bearing 36. The bearing 36 is fastened to the post 21 by a plurality of bolts 37.

The lower annular block 27 has an annular shoulder 40 overlying a rotary bearing 41. The rotary bearing 41 has a bearing surface 42 that operates against the complementary bearing surface 43 of a stationary bearing 44. The stationary bearing 44 is fastened to the post 21 by a plurality of bolts 45.

A pair of horizontal pipes 48 and 49 have ends 50 and 51 welded to the cylinder 25 (See FIGS. 1 and 5). A pair of downwardly extending posts 52 and 53 are threaded into collars 54 and 55 respectively. The collars 54 and 55 are welded to the horizontal bars 48 and 49. Each of the posts 52 and 53 has a hole 56 through its lower end, as shown in FIG. 5.

A swing seat 58 is supported by a pair of ropes, cables or chains 59 to the bar 48 adjacent its outer end. A similar swing seat 60 is supported by a'pair of ropes, cables or chains 61 from the bar 49 adjacent its outer end. Thus, when the cylinder 25, with its upper and lower blocks 26 and 27 and its rotating bearings 33 and 41, rotates, the horizontal pipes 48 and 49 rotate, revolving the swing seats 58 and 60.

A propelling mechanism 65, which comprises a clutch mechanism as will appear, is supported on the vertical post 21 below the cylinder 25. This propelling mechanism 65 includes a cylindrical drum 66 having a central web 67 by which it is welded to the vertical post 21. A housing 68 is rotatable about the drum 66. The housing 68 comprises a pair of vertically spaced horizontal plates 69 and 70 fastened on opposite sides of a plurality of dowels 71 by bolts 72.

The upper plate 69 is connected by a plurality of bolts 74 to a bearing retainer block 75. The bearing retainer block 75 has an upper inwardly extending annular flange 76 that cooperates with the plate 69 to tightly clamp a rotary bearing member 77. The bearing member 77 has a bearing face 78 that rotates against a complementary bearing face 79 on the stationary bearing member 44.

The lower plate 70 is fastened by a plurality of bolts 80 to a bearing retainer block 81. The bearing retainer block 81 is pressed tightly about a rotary bearing 82. The bearing 82 has a bearing face 83 that'rotates against a complementary bearing face 84 of a stationary bearing member 85. The stationary bearing member 85 is fastened by a plurality of bolts 86 to the vertical post 21.

A spring retainer lever 88 is spaced above the upper plate 69 by a pair of dowels 89 (See FIG. 8) and is fastened to the upper plate 69 by a pair of bolts 90 that extend through the dowels 89. One end 91 of a tension spring 92 is connected to a bolt 93 that is threaded into the outer end of the spring retainer lever 88. The other end 94 of the tension spring 92 is hooked to a collar clamp 95 that is clamped to the downwardly extending post 53 (See FIG. 5). Thus, it is apparent that the drum 66 is stationary because it is welded to the vertical post 21, whereas the housing 68, including the horizontal plates 69 and 70, is rotatable, and, in fact, is biased to rotate when the cylinder 25 rotates, revolving the post 53 and imparting tension to the tension spring 92.

As shown in FIG. 4, a brakeshoe 99 is pivotally mounted on a pin 100 that extends between the plates 69 and 70. To one side of the pivot pin 100, the brakeshoe 99 carries a friction pad 101 that is movable into and out of contact with the fixed drum 66 when the brakeshoe 99 oscillates about its pivot pin 100. To the other side of the pivot pin, a short spring 102 is mounted between a locating pin 103 on the brakeshoe 99 and a locating pin 104 mounted in a plate 105 welded or otherwise secured between the horizontal plates 69 and 70.

A rotatable eccentric 108 is mounted on a pivot pin 109. The pivot pin 109 is affixed between the horizontal plates 69 and 70. A lever arm 1 10, which has a stud 111 on its inner end by which it is threaded to the rotatable eccentric 108, projects radially outwardly from the eccentric 108. There is a hole 112 through the outer end of the lever arm 1 10 through which the end 113 of a cord 114 extends. There is a knot 115 on the end of the cord 114 to hold the cord within the hole 112. The eccentric 108 is rotatable about its pivot pin 109 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4 until a side 116 on the eccentric contacts a stop 117 mounted between the horizontal plates 69 and 70. I

When the eccentric 108 has been thus rotated, its curved eccentric face 118 is rotated to release the friction pad 101 from contact with the drum 66,-as the spring 102 biases the brakeshoe 99 to the position illustrated in FIG. 4, its eccentric face 118 presses the brakeshoe 99 to press the friction pad 101 against the drum 66.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the cord 114 extends through the hole 56 in the downwardly extending post 53, and the outer end of the cord is accessible to a person seated on the swing seat 60.

OPERATION This swing set 20 may be operated with one or both the swing seats 58 and 60 occupied. The bars 48 and 49 carrying the swing seats 58 and 60 are always freely rotatable as the cylinder 25 with its upper and lower blocks 26 and 27 and the rotatable bearings 33 and 41 are rotatable about the stationary bearings 36 and 44.

To produce a positive force to impart rotation to the bars 48 and 49 and the swing seats 58 and 60, the person occupying the swing seat 60 pulls the cord 114 toward him. When the cord 114 is pulled, it is drawn through the hole 56 in the downwardly extending post 53 and immediately swings the lever arm 110 to rotate the eccentric 108 in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 4) to the position illustrated in FIG. 4. In this position, the eccentric 108 has pivoted the brakeshoe 99 and pressed the friction pad I69 pressed tightly against the drum 66, the housing 68 that includes the horizontal plates 69 and 70 with their upper and lower bearing retainer blocks 75 and 81 and bearings 77 and 82 is clamped against rotation about the vertical post 21. Hence, the eccentric 1.08 and its lever 110 are also held stationary between the now stationary horizontal plates 69 and 70. Therefore, as the cord 114 is drawn further toward the person occupying the swing seat 60, it applies a force against the downwardly extending post 53 urging that post in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4 and causing the post 53 to be revolved about the vertical post 21. This revolving force applied to the downwardly extending post 53 causes the horizontal bars 48 and 49 to revolve with the downwardly extending post 53, with the cylinder 25 and its rotary bearings 33 and 41 rotating about the stationary bearings 36 and 44. As a result, the swing seats 58 and 60 revolve about the post 21 under the pulling force applied to the cord 114.

As the horizontal bars 48 and 49 continue to revolve, the tension spring 92 is elongated, as shown in FIG. 9. Also, the downwardly extending post 53, after revolving approximately 120, strikes the lever arm 110. At or prior to this instant, the person occupying the swing seat 60 releases the cord 114, permitting the inertial force of revolution of the downwardly extending post 53 to pivot the lever arm and the eccentric 108 in a clockwise direction to the position illustrated in FIG. 7 and until the face 116 on the eccentric 108 contacts the stop 117. This rotation of the eccentric 108 releases the brakeshoe 99 to be biased by the spring 102 to the position illustrated in FIG. 7, with the friction pad 101 freed from contact with the drum 66. Once the friction pad 101 has broken contact with the drum 66, the rotatable housing 68 is released to rotate about the vertical post 21. Since revolution of the downwardly extending post 53 has stretched the tension spring 92 as illustrated in FIG. 9, this tension spring is now in a condition to bias the rotatable housing 68 in a clockwise direction. Therefore, the rotatable housing 68 is quickly rotated in a clockwise direction by the tension spring 92 until the tension in the spring 92 is released. This tension in the spring 92 is released when the rotatable housing 68 has rotated to the position relative to the horizontal bars 48 and 49 illustrated in FIG. 2.

As long as the horizontal bars 48 and 49 continue to rotate under their inertia, the rotatable housing will maintain this relative position. In this relative rotated position, the swing set 20 is in condition for another applied rotating force which may be produced by again having the cord 114 drawn toward the occupant of the swing seat 60. This repetition of the pull on the cord 114 repeats the operation previously described, and this operation may be repeated successively for as long as the occupants of the swing seats 58 and 60 desire.

Various changes and modifications may be made within this invention as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teaching of this invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What we claim is:

1. A rotatable swing set comprising a vertical post, means for suspending a swing seat from a horizontal bar, the horizontal bar being connected to a rotary cylinder mounted for rotation about the vertical post, a clutch mechanism including a housing rotatably supported by the post, a cylindrical drum affixed to the vertical post, a pivotal brakeshoe supported by the housing for pivotal movement toward and away from the drum, a friction pad carried by the pivotal brakeshoe for making contact with the drum and thereby locking the housing against rotation when the brakeshoe is pivoted in one direction and for breaking contact with the drum and thereby freeing the housing for rotation when the brakeshoe is pivoted by biasing means in a direction opposite the said one direction, an eccentric rotatably supported by the housing for pressing the brakeshoe into contact with the drum, a radially outwardly extending lever arm connected to the eccentric, a downwardly extending bar connected to the horizontal bar between the rotary cylinder and the swing-seat-suspending means, a cord accessible to a rider on the swing seat, the cord being in constant bearing contact with the downwardly extending bar and connected to the outer end of the lever arm to rotate the eccentric in a direction to press the brakeshoe into contact with the drum when the cord is pulled, the force on the downwardly extending bar then rotating the horizontal bar with the downwardly extending bar being positioned to engage against the lever arm on such rotation to rotate the eccentric in a direction freeing the friction pad to be released by the biasing means from contact with the drum to permit rotation of the housing when the cord is relaxed; and means to rotate the housing to its original position relative to the swing seat when the friction pad is released.

2. The swing set of claim 1 wherein the means to rotate the housing to its original position relative to the swing seat comprises a tension spring.

3. The swing set of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a pair of horizontal plates spaced above and below the drum, the eccentric being rotatable about a vertical pin mounted between the horizontal plates, the brakeshoe being pivotal about a vertical pin mounted between the horizontal plates. 

1. A rotatable swing set comprising a vertical post, means for suspending a swing seat from a horizontal bar, the horizontal bar being connected to a rotary cylinder mounted for rotation about the vertical post, a clutch mechanism including a housing rotatably supported by the post, a cylindrical drum affixed to the vertical post, a pivotal brakeshoe supported by the housing for pivotal movement toward and away from the drum, a friction pad carried by the pivotal brakeshoe for making contact with the drum and thereby locking the housing against rotation when the brakeshoe is pivoted in one direction and for breaking contact with the drum and thereby freeing the housing for rotation when the brakeshoe is pivoted by biasing means in a direction opposite the said one direction, an eccentric rotatably supported by the housing for pressing the brakeshoe into contact with the drum, a radially outwardly extending lever arm connected to the eccentric, a downwardly extending bar connected to the horizontal bar between the rotary cylinder and the swing-seat-suspending means, a cord accessible to a rider on the swing seat, the cord being in constant bearing contact with the downwardly extending bar and connected to the outer end of the lever arm to rotate the eccentric in a direction to press the brakeshoe into contact with the drum when the cord is pulled, the force on the downwardly extending bar then rotating the horizontal bar with the downwardly extending bar being positioned to engage against the lever arm on such rotation to rotate the eccentric in a direction freeing the friction pad to be released by the biasing means from contact with the drum to permit rotation of the housing when the cord is relaxed, and means to rotate the housing to its original position relative to the swing seat when the friction pad is released.
 2. The swing set of claim 1 wherein the means to rotate the housing to its original position relative to the swing seat comprises a tension spring.
 3. The swing set of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a pair of horizontal plates spaced above and below the drum, the eccentric being rotatable about a vertical pin mounted between the horizontal plates, the brakeshoe being pivotal about a vertical pin mounted between the horizontal plates. 